Jeff Graves, the former Madison County, Alabama, sheriff’s deputy who responded to the suicide of a child with mockery and bigotry, has a new job. Local media is reporting that Graves has been hired by the police department in the suburban Huntsville town of Owens Cross Roads, a scant 16 miles down the road from his former employer.
Graves’ reaction to the April suicide of 15-year-old Nigel Shelby in the wake of anti-gay bullying by classmates at Huntsville High School was swift and, by all appearances, heartfelt. He posted on Facebook:
Liberty
Guns
Bible
Trump
BBQ
That’s my kind of LGBTQ movement
I’m seriously offended there is such a thing such as the movement. Society cannot and should not accept this behavior.
Graves resigned the week after his post was put up and then removed, with the county’s Sheriff Kevin Turner saying at the time that an internal investigation had “uncovered multiple violations of both county and sheriff’s office policies” on Graves’ part. Turner did not specify what those violations or policies were.
Graves’ new boss, Owens Cross Roads Police Chief Jason Dobbins, told local TV station WHNT that Graves is “remorseful” for his actions.
Dobbins said, “Everyone deserves a second chance.” WHNT reported, “The chief said he is confident in Graves ability to serve the residents of Owens Cross Roads, including the LGBTQ community. Dobbins notes that all interactions Graves has with the community will be recorded on police body cameras. The chief said the Owens Cross Roads Police Department treats everyone equally, adding ‘justice is blind.’ Dobbins says he has had a discussion with all Owens Cross Roads officers about their conduct on social media and what is appropriate.
“Chief Dobbins declined our request for an on-camera interview.”